Cricket Wireless’ entry-level LG Spree costs less than a Benjamin

First-time smartphone buyers don’t require that much power in their pockets. If anything, they’d like to start out with something that’s functional. The LG Spree for Cricket Wireless seems to fit the bill just fine without coming close to costing an arm and a leg.

Currently available for purchase through AT&T’s prepaid subsidiary, the Spree doesn’t exactly exude luxury with its polycarbonate exterior, but the fake brushed metal finish should allow the Spree to remain in your hands. Continuing our tour on the outside further affirms the Spree’s entry-level status, with the smartphone packing a 4.5-inch, 854 x 480 resolution display. A 2-megapixel camera sits above the display, while a 5-megapixel primary camera can be found around back.

Taking a peek under the hood reveals a 1.1GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor paired with 1GB of RAM. You’ll only get 8GB of internal storage, though you can add up to an additional 32GB through the Micro SD card slot. The seemingly-anemic 1,940mAh battery should keep the lights on all day, thanks to the light hardware. Finally, the Spree runs Android 5.1 Lollipop, with no word of whether the handset will be updated to Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

Overall, the Spree seems to be a no-nonsense entry-level smartphone for first-time smartphone buyers and those on tight budgets, since it goes for only $90. Even at such a low price point, however, the Spree faces incredibly stiff competition in the form of two of Motorola’s budget smartphones: the Moto G 2014 and the Moto E 2015. Both of those smartphones can be found for under $100, though the former lost out on the LTE fun. Even so, the Moto G 2014 is the only one in this bunch to be updated to Android 6.0 Marshmallow in the United States, though both the Moto G 2014 and the Moto E 2015 add a bit of flair with their interchangeable rear covers and outer rim, respectively.